The BC government says better winter highway conditions are ahead with a new 10-year maintenance contract in the Lakes District.
The province has awarded the contract to current operator Lakes District Maintenance Ltd. with an optional five-year extension.
The company will continue to be responsible for provincial highways in the Burns Lake, Houston, Granisle, and Topley areas.
The government says the new contract includes higher standards such as returning Highway 16 and other Class A highways to bare pavement within 24 hours of a winter weather event, increasing communication with the public to rapidly changing road conditions, and increasing the patrol frequency to four hours in anticipation of a forecasted weather event, up from the previous standard of 24 hours.
The BC government says 26 of the 28 maintenance contracts in the province will be tendered and awarded in 2018 and 2019.